Earlier this year, Google requested map data from the Korean government. In response, Korean tech companies Naver and Kakao have increased free limits to their respective maps APIs beyond what Google offers. The government is expected to respond next month but the competition has already started.

Google has introduced a Web Share API developers can use to enable sharing capabilities on sites. The API allows users to control how and where data is shared by enabling websites to call on the host platform’s native sharing capabilities. The API can only be used on websites with a secure origin.

MapQuest is inviting developers to take its MapQuest Static Map v5 API for a spin while in beta testing. The refreshed API has a handful of new features that should appeal to developers who rely on MapQuest's mapping tools. The beta is being offered for free through the end of 2016.

TomTom has added another API to its mapping and navigation solutions portfolio: Traffic Stats API. Traffic Stats collects data from over 450 million connected devices in order to provide historical traffic data. The data collected includes speed, route, travel time, segment, and more.

Facebook launched v2.8 of its Graph API. Highlights include Custom Open Graph and the Marketing API updates. Facebook will deliver more Common Open Graph action types to relieve developers from having to create custom graph actions and objects. Marketing API updates give advertisers more control.

Yelp continued its barrage of developer news today. The company's latest announcements include a completely redone developer program and the Yelp Fusion API that will replace Yelp's existing API over time. New API features include more pictures, content caching, autocomplete and more.

Google is opening up Maps to new ride-sharing partners, meaning the search giant just effectively created the first ride-hailing price comparison feature. The surprise here is that Uber, previously the only ride-sharing partner on Google Maps, allowed this.

Geocoding involves converting a description of a physical address into coordinates that represent that location on a map to perform spatial analysis. This tutorial on the Google Maps APIs blog describes the two approaches to geocoding with Google Maps APIs, and when to use them.

CrowdRiff has announced API access to its Visual Influence platform. API access to CrowdRiff features allow users to deliver user-generated photos and associated features to marketing products and campaigns. Features include social media search, calls to action, photo acquisition, and more.

Google today said it is putting the Google Places API for iOS 2.0 and the Google Maps SDK for iOS 2.0 into separate CocoaPods. The idea here is to reduce the app size for developers who need Places data, but not Maps data. Google says the change heralds big savings in app binaries.

After continued developer requests, Google has added marker clustering to Google Maps SDK for iOS Utility Library. The feature allows users to populate maps with a large number of markers while keeping the map clean and readable. As zoom levels adjust, markers aggregate and slit out accordingly.

After continued requests for access to more Yelp data, and additional API functionality, Yelp has launched a developer preview of a brand new API. The Yelp API was rebuilt from the ground up. Yelp envisions the new features, data, and architecture will simplify the developer experience.

Twelve APIs have been added to the ProgrammableWeb directory in categories such as Travel, eCommerce, Mapping and Bots. Featured today is an API from ViaMichelin which provides developers access to maps that include tourist destinations and fine restaurants. Here's a rundown of the latest additions.

Facebook this week introduced two major sets of developer tools for interacting with its various services. The company released a new software development kit for Apple's Swift programming language, and added lots of new features to its Graph API 2.7. Both toolsets are available in preview form.

Gnip's Audience API promises to let brands and marketers glean real-time, in-the-moment data about audiences that convalesce around topics, events, or other users. The idea is to give companies as much information as possible about those with whom they might want to engage.

The number and variety of services around Uber’s offering continues to grow thanks to its API platform that allows third-party developers to build innovative services and applications on top of Uber’s resources. Gordon Wintrob speaks to Andrew Noonan, Partner Engineer at Uber, about the platform.

eeGeo has announced the beta release of the eeGeo 3D Maps JavaScript API, an API that developers can use to quickly add eeGeo 3D maps to browser-based applications. This is the latest API released by eeGeo, the company released the eeGeo Points of Interest API earlier this year.

Google implemented a number of changes to its Maps API Standard Plan. Apps created on or after June 22nd will be subject to a host of new rules surrounding access and limits. Active domains utilizing the APIs prior to June 22nd are grandfathered in to differing degrees depending on implementation.

Leading travel companies are broadening their distribution channels by building platforms that enable partners and customers to connect and access their inventory and sales systems via application programming interfaces. APIs are the tools powering many of today’s mobile and Web applications.

Airbnb's CEO, Brian Chesky, hinted that Airbnb may soon open an API for third party integration. Chesky envisions the company shifting from a marketplace to a travel platform upon which third parties can plug into. While no specifics were given, Chesky suggested that lack of an API is a hole.